I don’t remember how old I was when I got it.
But I remember that I knew what it was,
From mama and my older cousin.
“You’ll find blood in your underwear one day.
Don’t worry or get startled.
It’s something that happens to all girls.
It lets them know that they’re grown up.
When it happens to you,
Come tell me.”

I was staying at my grandma’s when I got it for the first time.
I woke up mama in a startled state.
“Help me,
There’s the blood you told me about.”
“Don’t worry,” she said.
She called my uncle’s wife,
Who lived with grandma in the same building,
And she got me pads.
She came down with me,
And made me something warm to drink.

I never thought it was a disgusting or embarrassing thing.
I think it’s normal.
When I’m on my period,
Everyone in the house usually knows,
Because it comes with a lot of pain.
Dad even gives me a painkiller shot every month.
It makes my legs sore as well.
I was never too embarrassed to say,
“Sorry, I won’t be able to come to practice/work,
Because I’m on my period.
I need to rest on the first day.”
Even when I’m with my friends,
And they ask me what’s wrong,
I don’t hesitate to tell them,
“I’m on my period.”
I have never used euphemisms for it.

I don’t think it’s embarrassing.
It’s a part of being a woman.